Local Olympian Gall Honored at State Capitol

A contingent from the Flint Area Chamber of Commerce ushered Olympic hero Geena Gall to Lansing in style yesterday to meet Governor Rick Snyder and receive a proclamation on the floor of the State House of Representatives. “We were pleased to take Geena and her family to the State Capitol in a white stretch limousine,” said Mike Killbreath, President & CEO of the Flint Area Chamber of Commerce. The limo picked up Geena and her family members at her grandma’s Swartz Creek home. Killbreath, Jerry Preston and Mikki Hoffman represented the Flint Area Chamber of Commerce which had its staff help arrange the big day for Gall with the office of State Representative Joseph Graves.

Graves, other elected officials and Grand Blanc Community Schools Superintendent Dr. Norman Abdella spoke at a Flint Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon on August 20 when Grand Blanc Township Supervisor Mikki Hoffman declared it as “Geena Gall Day” in Grand Blanc.

Graves gave Gall a tribute yesterday to close the day’s session at the State House of Representaives. She also received a framed proclamation signed by State Rep. Graves, State Senator David Robertson and Governor Snyder. Gall’s family and her chaperons from the Flint Area Chamber of Commerce were also treated to a private meeting with the governor who expressed congratulatory remarks to his fellow alum from the University of Michigan. Gall won two national championships with the Wolverines and it was her first visit to the Capitol Building. “My only other visits to Lansing were to compete in college against Michigan State’s track team,” Gall said. “This was such a fun day and such a nice tribute.”

Gall will next meet President Barrack Obama at the White House on Thursday with other members of the United State Track & Field team that competed at the recent Olympic Games in London. Gall qualified for the semifinals in the women’s 800-meter race but an injury prevented her from moving on to the finals.

State Rep. Graves said “I am proud to honor a local athlete for her outstanding Olympic achievements and dedication to her sport. Athletes go through years of extensive training to qualify to represent Team USA and compete for our country at the Olympic Games. Geena has a lot to be proud of and I look forward to watching career leading up to the 2016 Olympic games.”

State Senator Robertson said “This was the second Olympian that I have had the honor of presenting with a tribute this year. Olympic athletes train year round for an opportunity to represent their country on one of the largest stages in the world. I hope Geena knows how proud we are of her, and I look forward to watching her compete in the future.”